The Forty-Eighth Chapter: Provocation

  The scene at Da Guan Kou is quite lively. On the first and fifteenth of each lunar month, it's exceptionally bustling, and this year on August 15th, it was even more crowded, with people packed like sardines in front of and behind the Tian Hou Temple, all coming from neighboring counties and cities to attend the fair.

  All kinds of snacks are available, and acrobatic performances are endless. Various small handicrafts also made their debut, such as paper-cutting, rattan weaving, grass weaving, sugar people, mud sculpture, stone carving, attracting countless people to stop and watch. The mooncakes that are particularly emphasized in other places at this time seem less eye-catching here.

  Zhao Guoding arrived at the Temple of Heaven with Hu Minggui and Tan Kai after 10 o'clock in the morning. The staff of the Security Office had already dispersed, and Luo Changrong couldn't come because of a party committee meeting in his hometown, so Zhao Guoding took on the heavy responsibility alone.

  Every time it's the 1st or 15th, the pickpockets around will try to take advantage of the occasion to make a profit, which is also the most troublesome thing for the security office in Daguan Kou Township. Almost every 1st and 15th, there are always a few people who have been stolen from coming to the security office in tears to report the case.

  Although the loss is not great, generally just a few dozen yuan, but for rural people it is also heart-wrenching, so every time the security room has to mobilize all its personnel to drive away those pickpockets and maintain the safety of the fair.

  When he was in the criminal police team, Zhao Guotang followed an old criminal policeman who was good at picking pockets for half a month, specializing in following cars to pick pockets and squatting points in the market. After half a month, Zhao Guotang also had a lot of gains.

  So Zhao Guotang had also come several times before, catching a few old faces who hadn't made their move yet. Zhao Guotang didn't make things difficult for them, and instead let the people from the security room tie these guys to the flagpole next to the Tianhou Temple, subjecting them to the public's jeers, and also letting the public recognize these local thieves who had been relying on theft to survive here for a long time, raising their vigilance.

  This method indeed achieved a very good effect, and soon the thieves around also became familiar with Zhao Guotang's figure. As long as Zhao Guotang arrived, these people would automatically disappear, or just stay in the teahouse drinking tea all day. Over time, it seemed to have formed a kind of tacit understanding.

  Zhao Guoding and Hu Minggui strolled along the streets beside the Temple of Heaven and returned to the square in front of the temple, where the flow of people was the largest.

  Although the weather was gradually cooling down, the crowded flow of people still made the two break out in a cold sweat. Several familiar figures that had caught their eye quickly disappeared into the crowd. Zhao Guodong didn't make a big deal about it; after all, everyone has the right to come and go as they please, and you can't restrict someone's personal freedom just because of their past record.

  "Brother Zhao, today is lively, shall we buy some things?" Hu Minggui had already become Brother Zhao's loyal follower. In just three to five months, he was able to create a sensation in Jiangmiao, and for the first time, Hu Minggui saw such an incredibly powerful figure.

  "What's good to buy here?"

  "Hey, look at that woven rattan and bamboo carving, stone carving, it's really good. Buying one as a gift for my girlfriend would be very meaningful." Hu Minggui said with occasional nods and greetings to passing relatives, friends and acquaintances.

  "Hmm, let's pause for a moment and take a look." Zhao Guodong's gaze shifted restlessly, there were too many people, one plain face after another rushed past him, it wasn't easy to find the target in this crowd, it seemed that going back to the square would be more appropriate.

  Half an hour later, Zhao Guotang returned to the original place and squatted behind several stone blocks next to the Temple of Heaven, his eyes wandering aimlessly in the crowd. It seems that those guys are still sensible today, knowing to leave on their own initiative.

  If they continued to loiter in front of him, Zhao Guotang would have taken it as a challenge to his authority and would have had to mete out the necessary punishment, fortunately this phenomenon did not occur.

  Zhao Guoding's gaze quickly locked onto the target, three men and one woman. Two of them were not young, at least over thirty years old. On the surface, they looked ordinary and didn't reveal anything special, nor did they make any extra movements. However, the aura that seeped out from within made Zhao Guoding immediately sense that two of them were practitioners, and not just ordinary ones.

  That girl is quite beautiful, tall and slender, with curly hair, a white face with large sunglasses covering half of her face, a thick metal chain swaying in front of her full chest, a slightly transparent white shirt with a black bra vaguely visible underneath, exuding an air of elegance and nobility mixed with a hint of rebelliousness, somewhat decadent beauty, Zhao Guodong commented.

  As for another young man, however, something was off. His eyes darted back and forth, his gaze wandering, and his fingers twitched nervously. Zhao Guo didn't know what this guy wanted to do?

  Pickpocketing? This seems laughable, the clothes on a few people are probably worth more than their annual salary. What's the target here that's worth their while? Small vendors or passing tourists?

  The dense local flavor and the ancient streets with a long history are very attractive to some free travelers, and even tourists from other provinces come here in search of fame. However, Zhao Guozhang does not think that there is any target worth their while.

  No matter what, Zhao Guo did not want any unpleasant things to happen in his own territory. Whoever it was, if they dared to provoke his authority, he would not back down.

  Most of the people strolling in the square in front of the Temple of Heaven are tourists from other places, rather than local residents. They prefer the various local specialties on the square, such as rattan flower baskets and winnows, grass-woven belts and shoes, stone-grinding blue paper cutouts, exquisite stone carvings, intricately carved bamboo crafts, and sturdy clay figurines. All of this is enough to make outsiders stop and linger.

  Although there are not many people usually, today is different. The 15th of the first month and August every year is the most important Tian Hou Jie (Heavenly Queen Festival), and many tourists from other places will choose to come here during this time. Once they lose something, it's hard to say how many, and that might bring a lot of trouble for themselves and the police station.

  "Zi Hua, tell Zhong Ping not to stir up trouble for no reason. Those two are eating off the government's plate." Just as Zhao Guotang was quietly observing the movements of several people, the other side also sensed Zhao Guotang's presence. The eagle-like eyes under the crystal glasses quickly locked onto Zhao Guotang, who had not intentionally concealed his identity.

  "Come on, boss, what's there to be afraid of in this poor and remote place? What about those who eat at the government's expense? There are plenty of wine bags and rice sacks. Zhongping is just going to play around and practice his skills." Another man said somewhat absent-mindedly.

  "No, I'm afraid you're mistaken. That guy isn't that simple. He's deliberately showing off to us, warning us. Didn't you notice? He deliberately exposed the handcuffs on his waist." The man with crystal glasses remained expressionless, but his voice rose slightly.

  "What's the big deal? If he's capable, then go catch Zhong Ping!"

  "Hui Ge, how come you've become so cautious since going out to the countryside for a walk?" The girl also joked: "Afraid of capsizing in a ditch?"

  "Hmph, the older one gets in this world, the smaller their guts become. This is a classic phrase, but it's also a famous saying." The man with glasses suddenly raised his voice, "Let Zhongping hurry back and stop causing trouble!"

  Get up early and seek support!